patricia of chicago | the multi-hyphenate dj from Chicago

20 Apr HONOLULU

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COVID Instructions:

Before flying into Oahu, you will need a COVID test. The test must be done 72 hours before your travel. Print out your negative COVID results and take them with you. Once you arrive at the airport, you will be instructed to fill out this online form. Please take the time to fill it out. It will save you a lot of time and a major headache. Your air carrier will then provide you with a wristband. Your wristband is your ticket to a shorter processing line to exit the airport once you arrive.

Also note that while in Hawaii, they do contact tracing. You will often be asked to give your name/email/address.

Side note: If you’re thinking about island hopping, guess again. Unfortunately, due to COVID they are not permitting anyone to island hop without either a 10-day quarantine, a negative COVID test within 72 hours, or an exemption of approval for a shorter quarantine period. Kauai travelers are subject to a quarantine with or without a test.

Getting There

We flew from Chicago to Oahu on a 8-hour flight on American. If you haven’t booked flights yet, set an alert to be notified when deals occur. Please note: due to COVID, air carriers may not offer meals onboard the plane therefore its best to pack snacks and eat before your flight.

The Honolulu airport is located about 10 minutes from Waikiki where we stayed for the night.

We rented a car to get us around the island. We wanted to be able to take it all in. While most of the stuff we did was close, having a car allowed us a lot more freedom and flexibility to check out different spots on the island. The hardest part about renting a car is that there was a lot of traffic and it was hard to find parking in many of the areas.

Here are a few of the other ways to get from the airport to Waikiki

DAY ONE

Visit Diamond Head

Diamond Head Summit hiking trail is a 1.8 mile trail located near Honolulu, Oahu. The trail starts in the middle of the volcanic Diamond crater and climbs about 500 feet where you can get some of the best panoramic views. Diamond Head, also known as “Le’ahi” by natives which means brow of the tuna, got its name almost 200 years ago when British sailors thought the crater had diamonds in it. None where found, but the name stuck.

The trail is open daily except on Wednesdays. The last entrance to hike the trail ends at 4pm.

Participate in a luau.

Luaus are one of the most festive cultural experiences on the Hawaiian island.

Stay: The Modern Honolulu by Diamond Resorts
The Modern Honolulu by Diamond Resorts is contemporary luxury hotel located one mile from Waikiki Beach. The hotel is in walking distance of many bars, restaurants, and shops. It features sleek rooms with views of the city, ocean, harbor, or pool. For the budget conscious luxury traveler, The Modern Honolulu by Diamond Resorts is a great hotel choice for Oahu!
book:booking.com || read reviews:tripadvisor

DAY TWO

Go on a tour of the island

We went on a day long tour with NuiTours.com . The tour was comprehensive and covered a large part of the island.

A couple of the spots along the tour include:

Sandy Beach

MacNut Farm

Coffee Farm

Waimea Bay

Helicopter Tour

If you’re feeling really fancy, go on a helicopter tour of the island.

Try local Hawaiian fare.

We asked around and some of the local favorites include:

On our trip, we sampled fare from Side Street Inn, an affordable family style restaurant. Be sure to book your reservations if possible. During our time there, wait times were upwards of two hours.

DAY THREE

Beach Hop

The beaches of Oahu, are ranked as some of the best beaches worldwide.

Ala Moana Beach – This was my favorite beach. It was peaceful and very relaxed.

Lanikai Beach – Ranked as one of TripAdvisor’s best beaches in 2014

Waikiki Beach

Hanauma Bay – This beach requires a reservation to gain access to. The park is open Wednesday – Sunday from 6:45-4p, however, there is no entry after 2pm and the beach closes at 3pm. It also has an entry fee of $12. In the past you could reserve your spot online, however, due to COVID the process has changed. Now, visitors are given tickets for a specific time to watch the mandatory educational video at the theater before heading down to the beach. Tickets are distributed on a first come, first serve basis when you arrive. Please note all 720 tickets are usually distributed between 8a-8:30 so you will want to arrive early.

Waimea Bay

Manini’owali Beach (Kua Bay)

Find a sand bar.

Reserve a boat or a tour and head out to a sandbar. A sandbar is a raised strip of land in the middle of the ocean. At high tide, the water raises just above the waist and at low tide the sand is completely exposed creating a “beach” experience in the middle of the ocean.

DAY FOUR

Shop at the International Market Place. Come prepared to spend some money. The International Market is a full of luxury designer stores as well as a few affordable shops.

Pro-tip: Some of the designer stores are actually cheaper on the island. A Fendi bag that I had my eye on was almost $150 cheaper.

For the more conscious shopper, you can also check out the Waikele Premium Outlets where you can find those some of this same designer labels for less.

Grab drinks at a local brewery.

Hawaii may be known for their beaches, but for their beer drinkers its a hot spot for trying out a few craft beer options.

Maui Brewing Company: Maui Brewing Company actually has a location in Waikiki if you’re coming from the mall. They also host a happy hour from

Hana Koa Brewing

Aloha Beer Company

Honolulu Beerworks

If you’re not into brews, check out some of the local cocktail spots.

Of the ones we visited, the blind ox and Skull & Crown Trading Co., a tiki bar locate in downtown Honolulu were are favorites, however, both are very small. A couple of other bars that are recommend in the area include:

DAY FIVE

Have breakfast at Cream Pot.

Visit Iolani Palace – Iolani has the tale of the colonizer. The official residence of the Hawaii monarch until the monarchy was overthrown.

Try a Malasada. A malasada is a Portuguese donut without a hole, however it is a local hawaiian favorite.

Other things you can do:
Visit the Honolulu Museum of Art

Zipline Kualoa Ranch

Try Shaved Ice

Pearl Harbor Tour